CN111407310A - Ultrasonic system and transmitting method and control method thereof - Google Patents
Ultrasonic system and transmitting method and control method thereof Download PDFInfo
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- CN111407310A CN111407310A CN202010001916.4A CN202010001916A CN111407310A CN 111407310 A CN111407310 A CN 111407310A CN 202010001916 A CN202010001916 A CN 202010001916A CN 111407310 A CN111407310 A CN 111407310A
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 45
- 238000002604 ultrasonography Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 160
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- 238000012285 ultrasound imaging Methods 0.000 claims description 23
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- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
- G01S7/52—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
- G01S7/52017—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00 particularly adapted to short-range imaging
- G01S7/52019—Details of transmitters
- G01S7/5202—Details of transmitters for pulse systems
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/54—Control of the diagnostic device
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/48—Diagnostic techniques
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
- B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
- B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
- B06B1/02—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
- B06B1/0207—Driving circuits
- B06B1/0215—Driving circuits for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
- G01S15/88—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
- G01S15/89—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
- G01S15/8906—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
- G01S15/8979—Combined Doppler and pulse-echo imaging systems
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- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
- G08C23/00—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems
- G08C23/02—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
- H04B1/02—Transmitters
- H04B1/04—Circuits
Abstract
The invention discloses an ultrasound system, a transmission method and a control method thereof, wherein the ultrasound system comprises a hybrid transmitter configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to a target area. The hybrid transmitter may include a linear transmitter configured to produce a linear transmitter output and a switching transmitter configured to produce a switching transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter may also include a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load to produce the ultrasonic waves transmitted toward the subject region. The ultrasound system may further include a receiver configured to receive one or more ultrasound waves from the object region in response to the ultrasound waves being transmitted toward the object region to generate an ultrasound image of the object region.
Description
Technical Field
The invention relates to an ultrasonic hybrid transmitter. In particular, the present invention relates to an ultrasound hybrid transmitter with improved bandwidth, improved pulse shaping capability and improved efficiency in the operation of an ultrasound system.
Background
Ultrasound systems have the ability to pulse shape the transmit signal used to excite the transducer. This transmit pulse shaping is typically accomplished by a linear transmitter. Although a linear transmitter generally has good pulse shaping capabilities, it has a lower bandwidth and lower efficiency than a more conventional switched transmitter. On the other hand, switched transmitters have inferior pulse shaping capabilities compared to linear transmitters due to their limited number of achievable levels. Accordingly, there is a need for an ultrasound system and method that includes the advantages of both pulse shaping provided by a linear transmitter, as well as the advantages of improved bandwidth and higher efficiency provided by a switched transmitter.
Furthermore, ultrasound systems have different requirements when operating in different modes of operation. In particular, the ultrasound system may be configured to operate optimally in the B mode while sacrificing performance in the CD mode. Accordingly, there is a need for an ultrasound system and method that optimizes the performance of the ultrasound system based on the particular mode of operation of the ultrasound system.
Disclosure of Invention
In various embodiments, an ultrasound system includes a hybrid transmitter configured to transmit ultrasound waves to a region of a subject. The hybrid transmitter may include a linear transmitter configured to generate a linear transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter may also include a switching transmitter configured to generate a switching transmitter output. In addition, the hybrid transmitter may include a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load to produce the ultrasonic waves transmitted toward the subject region. The ultrasound system may also include a receiver configured to receive one or more ultrasound waves from the object region in response to the ultrasound waves transmitted toward the object region to generate one or more ultrasound images of the object region.
In some embodiments, a method includes controlling a linear transmitter of a hybrid transmitter to generate a linear transmitter output. The method may also include controlling a switching transmitter of the hybrid transmitter to generate a switching transmitter output. Further, the method may include summing the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load to produce the ultrasound waves transmitted toward the subject region.
In various embodiments, a method includes identifying a hybrid transmitter operating mode for a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system. The hybrid transmitter may include a linear transmitter configured to generate a linear transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter may also include a switching transmitter configured to generate a switching transmitter output. In addition, the hybrid transmitter may include a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load to produce the ultrasonic waves. The method may further include controlling operation of the linear transmitter and the switching transmitter in accordance with the hybrid transmitter operating mode to generate a desired hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load.
In some embodiments, a method includes identifying an ultrasound imaging mode of an ultrasound system including a hybrid transmitter. The hybrid transmitter may include a linear transmitter configured to generate a linear transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter may also include a switching transmitter configured to generate a switching transmitter output. Further, the hybrid transmitter may include a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load to produce the ultrasonic waves. The method may further include controlling operation of the linear transmitter and the switch transmitter in accordance with an ultrasound imaging mode of the ultrasound system.
Drawings
Fig. 1 shows an example of an ultrasound system.
FIG. 2 shows an example hybrid transmitter ultrasound system.
Fig. 3 shows an example hybrid transmitter architecture for a hybrid transmitter that is used to empirically create a hybrid transmitter operating mode for the hybrid transmitter.
Fig. 4A shows a representation of a linear transmitter output for a linear transmitter used to generate a linear transmitter operating mode.
Fig. 4B shows a representation of a switch transmitter output of a switch transmitter used to generate a switch transmitter operating mode.
Fig. 5A shows an optimal 16 sample input for a hybrid transmitter linear and switched transmitter to produce a 30MHz, 2 cycle gaussian pulse.
Fig. 5B shows the output of the linear transmitter and the switched transmitter for the optimal 16 sample input hybrid transmitter shown in fig. 5A.
Fig. 5C shows the final hybrid transmitter output of the hybrid transmitter in response to 16 sampling inputs compared to the desired output of the hybrid transmitter.
Fig. 6A shows the optimal 24 sample inputs for a linear transmitter and a switch transmitter of a hybrid transmitter.
Fig. 6B shows the output of the linear transmitter and the switched transmitter for the optimal 24 sample input hybrid transmitter shown in fig. 6A.
Fig. 6C shows the final hybrid transmitter output of the hybrid transmitter in response to the 24 sampled inputs compared to the desired output of the hybrid transmitter.
Fig. 7A and 7B show a comparison of the 10dB amplitude benefit of a hybrid transmitter versus a linear transmitter in the time and frequency domains.
Fig. 8 shows an example topology of a hybrid transmitter.
Fig. 9A shows a hybrid transmitter with a transformer that acts as a summer to produce a single-ended hybrid transmitter output.
Fig. 9B shows a hybrid transmitter with a transformer that acts as a summer to produce a differential hybrid transmitter output.
Fig. 10 shows a hybrid transmitter with a switch.
FIG. 11 is a flow chart of an example method of controlling a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system to transmit ultrasound waves to a region of interest.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart of an example method for controlling a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system to transmit ultrasound waves toward a region of interest using a transmitter operating mode.
Fig. 13 is a flow diagram of an example method of controlling a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system to transmit ultrasound to a region of a subject based on an ultrasound imaging mode of the ultrasound system.
Detailed Description
The present invention is directed to the need in the art for an improved ultrasound transmitter. In particular, the present invention relates to systems, methods, and computer readable media for an ultrasound transmitter that include both the advantages of pulse shaping provided by a linear transmitter, as well as the advantages of improved bandwidth and higher efficiency provided by a switched transmitter.
The ultrasound machine has the ability to pulse shape the transmit signal used to excite the transducer. This transmit pulse shaping is typically accomplished by a linear transmitter. Although linear transmitters generally have good pulse shaping capabilities, they have lower bandwidths and lower efficiencies than more conventional switched transmitters. On the other hand, switched transmitters have higher bandwidth and efficiency because they have a limited number of achievable levels. However, such switched transmitters have a coarser pulse shaping capability compared to linear transmitters.
Ultrasound systems including hybrid combinations of linear transmitters and switched transmitters and methods for operating the same are described. This, in turn, allows the ultrasound system to utilize transmitters with greater bandwidth, higher pulse shaping capability, and higher efficiency than designs based solely on linear transmitters or switched transmitters.
Furthermore, ultrasound systems have different requirements when operating in different modes of operation. In particular, the ultrasound system may be configured to operate optimally in the B mode while sacrificing performance in the CD mode. Another benefit of the hybrid transmitter with respect to the ultrasound system described herein is that it can provide mode switching agility when multiple ultrasound modes are used (possibly simultaneously).
A hybrid transmitter is described that utilizes the enhanced pulse shaping capabilities of hybrid transmitters in conjunction with pulse design techniques to compensate for imperfections in the analog portions of linear and switched transmitters, as well as to compensate for transducer response. In particular, the ultrasound system may be configured to use one or more hybrid transmitters to lock in different modes of operation while achieving the benefits of a hybrid transmitter including a linear transmitter and a switched transmitter.
In various embodiments, an ultrasound system includes a hybrid transmitter configured to transmit ultrasound waves to a region of a subject. The hybrid transmitter may include a linear transmitter configured to generate a linear transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter may also include a switching transmitter configured to generate a switching transmitter output. In addition, the hybrid transmitter may include a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load to produce the ultrasonic waves transmitted toward the subject region. The ultrasound system may also include a receiver configured to receive one or more ultrasound waves from the object region in response to the ultrasound waves being transmitted toward the object region to generate one or more ultrasound images of the object region.
In some embodiments, a method includes controlling a linear transmitter of a hybrid transmitter to generate a linear transmitter output. The method may also include controlling a switching transmitter of the hybrid transmitter to generate a switching transmitter output. Further, the method may include summing the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load to produce the ultrasound waves transmitted toward the subject region.
In various embodiments, a method includes identifying a hybrid transmitter operating mode for a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system. The hybrid transmitter may include a linear transmitter configured to generate a linear transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter may also include a switching transmitter configured to generate a switching transmitter output. In addition, the hybrid transmitter may include a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load to produce the ultrasonic waves. The method may further include controlling operation of the linear transmitter and the switching transmitter in accordance with the hybrid transmitter operating mode to generate a desired hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load.
In some embodiments, a method includes identifying an ultrasound imaging mode of an ultrasound system including a hybrid transmitter. The hybrid transmitter may include a linear transmitter configured to generate a linear transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter may also include a switching transmitter configured to generate a switching transmitter output. In addition, the hybrid transmitter may include a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load to produce the ultrasonic waves. The method may further include controlling operation of the linear transmitter and the switch transmitter in accordance with an ultrasound imaging mode of the ultrasound system.
Some infrastructure has become available that can be used with the embodiments of the present disclosure, such as general purpose computers, computer programming tools and techniques, digital storage media and communication networks.
Aspects of some embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. As used herein, a software module or component may include any type of computer instruction or computer executable code located within or on a computer readable storage medium. A software module may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions, which may be organized as a routine, program, object, component, data structure, etc., that performs one or more tasks or implements particular abstract data types.
In some embodiments, particular software modules may include different instructions stored in different locations on a computer-readable storage medium that together implement the described module functions. Indeed, a module may comprise a single instruction, or many instructions, and may be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several computer-readable storage media. Some embodiments may be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network.
The disclosed embodiments of the invention will be best understood by referring to the drawings. The components of the disclosed embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Furthermore, features, structures, or operations associated with one embodiment may be applied to, or combined with, features, structures, or operations described in another embodiment. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the systems and methods of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of possible embodiments. In addition, the steps of the method need not necessarily be performed in any particular order, even sequentially, nor need the steps be performed only once.
Fig. 1 shows an example of an ultrasound system 100. The ultrasound system 100 shown in figure 1 is merely an exemplary system and, in different embodiments, the ultrasound system 100 may have fewer components or additional components. The ultrasound system 100 may be an ultrasound system in which the receive array focusing unit is referred to as a beam combiner 102 and image formation may be performed on a scan line by scan line basis. System control may be centralized in a master controller 104 that accepts operator input through an operator interface to control the various subsystems. For each scan line, a Radio Frequency (RF) excitation voltage pulse waveform is generated by the transmitter 106 and applied to the transmit apertures (defined by the sub-arrays of active array elements) at the appropriate timing to produce a focused acoustic beam in the scan direction. The RF echoes received by the receive apertures 108 of the transducers 110 are amplified and filtered by the receivers 108 and then fed to the beamformer 102, the function of the beamformer 102 being to perform dynamic receive focusing, i.e., to realign the RF signals from the same location along the various scanlines.
The cine buffer 114 provides resident digital image storage for loop viewing of a single image or multiple images and serves as a buffer for transferring images to a digital archival device. On most systems, the video images at the end of the data processing path can be stored in a cine memory. In state-of-the-art systems, amplitude detected beamformed data may also be stored in cine memory 114. For spectral doppler, the wall filtered baseband doppler I/Q data at the user selected sampling gate may be stored in cine memory 114. Subsequently, display 116 may display the ultrasound images created by image processor 112 and/or images created using data stored in cine memory 114.
The beam synthesizer 102, the master controller 104, the image processor, the cine memory 114, and the display may be included as part of a master processing console 118 of the ultrasound system 100. In various embodiments, the main processing console 118 may include more or fewer components or subsystems. The ultrasound transducer 110 may be incorporated in a device separate from the main processing console 118, for example, in a separate device that is wired or wirelessly connected to the main processing console 118. This allows for easier manipulation of the ultrasound transducer 110 when performing a particular ultrasound procedure on a patient. Further, the transducer 110 may be an array transducer comprising transmit and receive array elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves.
Fig. 2 shows an exemplary hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200. The hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200 shown in fig. 2 may be configured to perform the functions of an applicable ultrasound system, such as the ultrasound system 100 shown in fig. 1. In particular, the hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200 may transmit and receive ultrasound waves to and from a region of interest for the purpose of generating ultrasound images of the region of interest. Further, the hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200 may perform sonication/ultrasound image processing on the received ultrasound waves in order to generate an ultrasound image of the object region. For example, the hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200 may beamform ultrasound waves received from the object region to ultimately produce an ultrasound image of the object region.
The hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200 includes a hybrid transmitter 202 and a receiver 204. Although only a single hybrid transmitter 202 and receiver 204 is shown in the exemplary hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200, in various embodiments, the hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200 may include more than one hybrid transmitter 202 and/or more than one receiver 204. Further, the hybrid transmitter 202 and receiver 204 may be integrated as part of, or with, a suitable ultrasound transducer, such as the transducer 110 in the example ultrasound system 100 shown in fig. 1.
The hybrid transmitter 202 is used to generate a hybrid transmitter output that is used to drive the transducer load to generate ultrasound waves that are transmitted toward the subject region. The receiver 204 is for receiving ultrasound waves from the subject area in response to the ultrasound waves transmitted by the hybrid transmitter 202 toward the subject area. Ultrasound waves received by the receiver 204 from the object region may then be used, at least in part, to generate an ultrasound image of the object region.
As will be discussed in more detail below, the hybrid transmitter may include a linear transmitter, a switching transmitter, and a summer. The linear transmitter is configured to generate a linear transmitter output for ultimately generating an ultrasound wave for transmission toward the subject area. The switch transmitter is configured to generate a switch transmitter output for ultimately generating an ultrasound wave for transmission toward the subject area. The summer is configured to add the linear transmitter output of the linear transmitter to the switched transmitter output of the switched transmitter to generate a hybrid transmitter output. The resulting hybrid transmitter output from the summer can then be used to drive the transducer load to generate ultrasound waves for transmission toward the subject region.
The hybrid transmitter control module 206 is configured to control the hybrid transmitter 202 to generate a hybrid transmitter output to drive the transducer load to generate the ultrasonic waves. In particular, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may control either or both of the linear transmitter and the switch transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202 to control the generation of the hybrid transmitter output. More specifically, hybrid transmitter control module 206 may turn off either or both of the linear transmitter and the switch transmitter to produce a hybrid transmitter output. When one of the linear transmitter and the switch transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202 is turned off, the output of the linear transmitter or the switch transmitter is null. The summer of hybrid transmitter 202 may still sum the null output of the linear transmitter or the switched transmitter with the output of the transmitter producing an output having the actual value to produce the hybrid transmitter output. For example, if hybrid transmitter control module 206 turns off a linear transmitter, summer of hybrid transmitter 202 may sum the null linear transmitter output with the switch transmitter output of the switch transmitter to produce the hybrid transmitter output of hybrid transmitter 202.
Further, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may control the hybrid transmitter 202 based on the ultrasound imaging mode of the hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200. The ultrasound imaging mode of the hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200 may include an ultrasound imaging mode in which the ultrasound system may generate ultrasound images. For example, the ultrasound imaging modes of the hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200 may include B-mode, CD-mode, CEUS, and PW mode.
The hybrid transmitter control module 206 may independently control the operation of the linear and switched transmitters of the hybrid transmitter 202 based on the ultrasound imaging mode of the hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200. This is important because different ultrasound imaging modes can utilize different transmitter high voltages. In particular, each ultrasound imaging mode may use different transmit pulses at different output levels. This requires constant adjustment of the emitter high voltage when only a single type of emitter is used. This, in turn, may adversely affect the acquisition frame rate, since the high voltage must settle to a new voltage before scanning. To overcome this problem, the hybrid transmit control module 206 may operate in a particular ultrasound imaging mode of the hybrid transmitter ultrasound system 200 for different transmitters (e.g., the linear transmitter and the switched transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202). In particular, this may avoid the need to reset the high voltage power supply of the hybrid transmitter 202. For example, the B mode may be assigned to use both linear and switched transmitters, the PW mode may be assigned to use only switched transmitters, CEUS may be assigned to use only linear transmitters, and the CD mode may be assigned to use only linear transmitters. As described below, a higher frame rate may be achieved as opposed to the case where the hybrid transmitter control module 206 needs to retune the transmitter high voltage power supply between modes. In various embodiments, the hybrid transmitter control module may control the switched transmitter and the linear transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202 in an interleaved manner (e.g., presented to the user simultaneously).
Further, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may control the hybrid transmitter 202 based on a hybrid transmitter operating mode associated with the hybrid transmitter 202. The hybrid transmitter operating mode associated with the hybrid transmitter 202 may model or otherwise predict the output of the hybrid transmitter 202 in response to a particular input to the hybrid transmitter 202. More specifically, the hybrid transmitter operating mode may predict the output of a hybrid transmitter 202 operating in a particular ultrasound imaging mode in response to a given input to the hybrid transmitter 202. Similarly, a hybrid transmitter operating mode associated with the hybrid transmitter 202 may predict a particular input to the hybrid transmitter 202 that will cause the hybrid transmitter 202 to produce a desired output. More specifically, the hybrid transmitter operating mode may predict a particular input to the hybrid transmitter 202 that will cause the hybrid transmitter 202 to produce a desired output when the hybrid transmitter 202 is operating in a particular ultrasound imaging mode.
The hybrid transmitter operating mode associated with the hybrid transmitter 202 may be generated by simulating operation of one or more hybrid transmitters (possibly including the hybrid transmitter 202). In particular, the hybrid transmitter operating mode may be generated by simulating operation of the hybrid transmitter 202, for example, using SPICE simulation or a transducer model. Further, the hybrid transmitter operating mode may be generated by simulating operation of a hybrid transmitter other than the hybrid transmitter 202. In simulating operation of one or more hybrid transmitters, a transmitter operating mode may be simulated for each of the linear and switched transmitters in the one or more hybrid transmitters. In particular, a linear transmitter operating mode may be simulated for a linear transmitter of a hybrid transmitter, and a switched transmitter operating mode may be simulated for a switched transmitter of the hybrid transmitter. The simulated linear transmitter mode of operation and the simulated switched transmitter mode of operation may then be combined to form a simulated hybrid transmitter mode of operation for the hybrid transmitter.
In addition, hybrid transmitter control module 206 may empirically determine the hybrid transmitter operating mode by actually controlling hybrid transmitter 202 to determine the hybrid transmitter operating mode. In particular, hybrid transmitter control module 206 may control the linear transmitter of hybrid transmitter 202 to empirically identify a linear transmitter operating mode for the linear transmitter. Additionally, hybrid transmitter control module 206 may control the switch transmitter of hybrid transmitter 202 to empirically identify the switch transmitter operating mode for the switch transmitter. Hybrid transmitter control module 206 may then empirically determine a hybrid transmitter operating mode by combining the empirically determined linear transmitter operating mode with the empirically determined switched transmitter operating mode.
Hybrid transmitter control module 206 may turn off the switching transmitter of hybrid transmitter 202 when empirically determining the linear transmitter operating mode for the linear transmitter of hybrid transmitter 202. Hybrid emitter control module 206 may then input the single pulse samples into the linear emitter. The hybrid transmitter control module 206 may then measure the hybrid transmitter output generated in response to the single pulse sample input into the linear transmitter for driving the transducer load. Thus, hybrid emitter control module 206 may empirically generate a linear emitter operating mode for a linear emitter based on pulse samples input into the linear emitter and a resulting emitter output generated in response to the pulse samples.
The hybrid transmitter control module 206 may turn off the linear transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202 when the switched transmitter operating mode of the switched transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202 is empirically determined. Hybrid emitter control module 206 may then input the single pulse samples to the switch emitters. The hybrid transmitter control module 206 may then measure the hybrid transmitter output generated in response to the single pulse sample input into the switch transmitter for driving the transducer load. Thus, hybrid transmitter control module 206 may empirically generate a switched transmitter operating mode for a switched transmitter based on pulse samples input into the switched transmitter and transmitter outputs generated in response to the pulse samples.
Fig. 3 shows an example hybrid transmitter architecture 300 for empirically generating a hybrid transmitter operating mode for the hybrid transmitter 202. In particular, the hybrid transmitter architecture 300 may be controlled by the hybrid transmitter control module 206 to generate a hybrid transmitter operating mode for the hybrid transmitter 202.
As shown in the hybrid transmitter architecture 300 in fig. 3, the linear transmitter mode may be determined empirically by turning off the switch transmitter 302. As shown in fig. 3, the switching transmitter referred to herein may be formed of a three-level transmitter. After the switch transmitter 302 is turned off, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may input a single pulse sample to drive the D/a. The hybrid transmitter control module 206 may then measure the electrical output at the transducer load or the acoustic output of the transducer.
Likewise, the switched transmitter mode may be determined empirically by turning off the linear transmitter 304. After turning off linear transmitter 304, hybrid transmitter control module 206 may input a single pulse sample to drive switching transmitter 302. The hybrid transmitter control module 206 may then measure the electrical output at the transducer load or the acoustic output of the transducer. Hybrid transmitter control module 206 may then sum the output of switching transmitter 302 when linear transmitter 304 is off with the output of linear transmitter 304 when switching transmitter 302 is off to produce hybrid transmitter operating mode 306 for hybrid transmitter 202.
Fig. 4A shows a representation 400 of the linear transmitter output of the linear transmitter 304 used to generate the linear transmitter operating mode. In particular, fig. 4A shows a representation 400 of the linear transmitter output before and after filtering. The linear transmit output shown in fig. 4A may ultimately be used to generate a hybrid transmitter operating mode for the hybrid transmitter 202.
Fig. 4B shows a representation 402 of the switch transmitter output of the switch transmitter 302 used to generate the switch transmitter operating mode. In particular, fig. 4B shows a representation 402 of the switched transmitter output before and after filtering. The switched transmitter output shown in fig. 4B may ultimately be used to generate a hybrid transmitter operating mode for the hybrid transmitter 202.
Returning to fig. 2, after obtaining the hybrid transmitter operating mode for the hybrid transmitter 202, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may apply integer linear programming to control the operation of the linear transmitter and the switching transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202. In particular, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may apply integer linear programming to control operation of the hybrid transmitter 202 based on a hybrid transmitter operating mode associated with the hybrid transmitter 202.
The hybrid emitter control module 206 may determine a desired output of the hybrid emitter 202 when applying integer linear programming to control the hybrid emitter 202 based on a control mode associated with the hybrid emitter 202. In particular, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may determine desired characteristics of the transmitted ultrasound waves corresponding to the desired output of the hybrid transmitter 202, for example, based on an ultrasound imaging mode of the hybrid transmitter 202. Thus, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may use the control pattern to identify either or both of a linear transmitter input and a switched transmitter input to apply to the hybrid transmitter 202 to generate a desired hybrid transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter control module 206 may then actually control the application of the linear transmitter input and the switched transmitter input to the hybrid transmitter 202 to produce the desired hybrid transmitter output.
The description below provides more detail on how the hybrid emitter control module 206 can use mixed integer linear programming to derive optimal/desired/specific inputs for linear emitters and switch emitters to produce the desired target waveform/hybrid emitter output (electrical and acoustic) of the transducer. The linear transmitter input can be viewed as a continuous variable (high resolution D/a) between-1 and 1. Furthermore, the switch transmitter input is a finite set of integers; for example, a three-level transmitter would be limited to the input set { -1, 0, 1 }.
Hybrid transmitter control module 206 may be configured to address
And
equations 1, 2 and 3 below are solved to derive the optimal inputs for hybrid transmitter 202, e.g., linear transmitter input and switched transmitter input. In particular, hybrid transmitter control module 206 may be directed to
And
solving equations 1, 2 and 3 to make the error
Min to get the optimum input for the hybrid transmitter:
Equation 2
Equation 4
Wherein
By deriving a particular hybrid transmitter input in accordance with the foregoing description, hybrid transmitter control module 206 may compensate for the analog response of the linear transmitter, the switched transmitter, and the transducer to match the desired hybrid transmitter output to the actual output generated based on that particular input.
In particular, hybrid transmitter control module 206 may compensate for these analog responses to match the desired hybrid transmitter output with the actual output generated based on the particular hybrid transmitter input identified using the hybrid transmitter operating mode.
Fig. 5A shows an optimal 16 sample input 500 for a linear transmitter and a switched transmitter for the hybrid transmitter 202 to generate a 30MHz, 2 cycle gaussian pulse. Fig. 5B shows the output 502 of the linear transmitter and the switch transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202 to the optimal 16 sample inputs 500 shown in fig. 5A. Fig. 5C shows the final hybrid transmitter output 504 of the hybrid transmitter 202 in response to the 16 sample inputs 500 compared to the desired output of the hybrid transmitter 202.
Fig. 6A shows an optimal 24 sample input 600 for a linear transmitter and a switch transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202. Fig. 6B shows the output 602 of the linear transmitter and the switch transmitter of the hybrid transmitter 202 to the optimal 24 sample inputs 600 shown in fig. 6A. Fig. 6C shows the final hybrid transmitter output 604 of the hybrid transmitter 202 in response to the 24 sample inputs 600 compared to the desired output of the hybrid transmitter 202.
Fig. 7A and 7B show a comparison of 10dB amplitude benefits of a hybrid transmitter versus a linear transmitter in the time domain 700 and the frequency domain 702. It should be noted that the output of the hybrid transmitter may match the desired input that compensates for the analog response of the linear transmitter, the switched transmitter, and the transducer.
Fig. 8 shows an example topology of a hybrid transmitter 800. Hybrid transmitter 800 may be a suitable hybrid transmitter implemented in an ultrasound system for transmitting ultrasound waves into a region of interest, such as hybrid transmitter 202. Hybrid transmitter 800 includes a linear transmitter 802 and a switched transmitter 804. The linear transmitter 802 is driven by an N-bit D/A806, the D/A806 receiving its input from a waveform RAM (N-bit) 808. The switch transmitter is driven using M bits from waveform RAM 808. In various embodiments, the M bits from the waveform RAM808 used to drive the switched transmitter 804 are less than the N bits of the waveform RAM808 used to drive the linear transmitter 802. Further, the N bits of the waveform RAM808 may include all bits of the waveform RAM 808. Hybrid transmitter control module 206 may control waveform RAM808 to output an arbitrary output sequence (depending on the maximum length of RAM 808) for use as input to linear transmitter 802 and switching transmitter 804. Alternatively, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may loop repeatedly over a portion of the waveform RAM808 to provide input to the linear transmitter 802 and the switch transmitter 804. The loop portion may be appended with a unique initial waveform sequence or may be appended with a unique termination waveform sequence.
The outputs of the linear transmitter 802 and the switched transmitter 804 are summed by a summer 810 before driving the transducer load. The summer 810 may be implemented by a transformer. After termination of the transmit pulse of the hybrid transmitter, optional transformer ground clamps (or short circuits across the transformer) may be utilized to minimize ringing.
Fig. 9A shows a hybrid transmitter 900 with a transformer that acts as a summer to produce a single-ended hybrid transmitter output. Hybrid transmitter 900 may be a suitable hybrid transmitter implemented in an ultrasound system for transmitting ultrasound waves into a region of interest, such as hybrid transmitter 202. Hybrid transmitter 900 comprises a single-ended linear transmitter configured to generate a single-ended linear transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter 900 also includes a single-ended three-level transmitter, acting as a switched transmitter, configured to generate a single-ended switched transmitter output. In addition, the hybrid transmitter 900 includes a transformer that acts as a summer to sum the single-ended linear transmitter output and the single-ended switched transmitter output to produce a single-ended hybrid transmitter output. In particular, the summer may generate a single-ended hybrid transmitter output to drive a transducer load to produce the ultrasonic waves.
Fig. 9B shows a hybrid transmitter 902 with a transformer that acts as a summer to produce a differential hybrid transmitter output. Hybrid transmitter 902 may be a suitable hybrid transmitter implemented in an ultrasound system for transmitting ultrasound waves into a region of interest, such as hybrid transmitter 202. Hybrid transmitter 902 comprises a differential linear transmitter configured to generate a differential linear transmitter output. Hybrid transmitter 902 also includes a differential three-level transmitter, acting as a switched transmitter, configured to generate a differential switched transmitter output. In addition, hybrid transmitter 902 includes a transformer that acts as a summer to sum the differential linear transmitter output and the differential switched transmitter output to produce a differential hybrid transmitter output. In particular, the summer may generate a differential hybrid transmitter output to drive the transducer load to generate the ultrasonic waves.
Fig. 10 shows a hybrid transmitter 1000 with a switch. The hybrid transmitter 1000 shown in fig. 10 may be used in place of a transformer-based hybrid transmitter, such as the hybrid transmitters 900 and 902 shown in fig. 9A and 9B. The hybrid transmitter 1000 includes a switched transmitter 1002 and a linear transmitter 1004. In addition, the hybrid transmitter 1000 includes a transmit/receive switch 1006 coupled to the switch transmitter 1002 and the linear transmitter 1004. The switch 1006 is coupled to an oscillator 1008 (e.g., a crystal oscillator), which oscillator 1008 is used by the switch 1006 to perform precise switching between the switch transmitter 1002 and the linear transmitter 1004. In operation, the function of the switch 1006 is to switch between the output of the switch transmitter 1002 and the linear transmitter 1004 to drive the transducer load 1010.
Fig. 11 is a flow chart 1100 of an example method of controlling a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system to transmit ultrasound waves to a region of a subject. The example method shown in fig. 11 may be implemented using a suitable ultrasound system and a suitable hybrid transmitter, such as the systems and transmitters described herein.
In step 1102, a linear transmitter of a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system is controlled to produce a linear transmitter output. The linear emitter may be controlled by a suitable hybrid emitter control module, such as hybrid emitter control module 206, to produce a linear emitter output. The linear transmitter may be configured to generate a single-ended output and controlled to create a single-ended linear transmitter output. In addition, the linear transmitter may be configured to generate a differential output and controlled to create a differential linear transmitter output.
In step 1104, a switching transmitter of a hybrid transmitter of the ultrasound system is controlled to produce a switching transmitter output. The switch transmitter may be controlled by a suitable hybrid transmitter control module, such as hybrid transmitter control module 206, to generate a switch transmitter output. The switched transmitter may be configured to generate a single-ended output and controlled to create a single-ended switched transmitter output. In addition, the switch transmitter may be configured to generate a differential output and controlled to create a differential switch transmitter output.
At step 1106, the summer is controlled to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output to drive the transducer load to produce the ultrasound waves that are transmitted toward the subject region. The summer may be controlled to create a single ended hybrid transmitter output or a differential hybrid transmitter output. The summer may be implemented by a transformer.
Fig. 12 is a flow chart 1200 of an example method of controlling a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system to transmit ultrasound waves toward a region of interest using a transmitter mode of operation. The example method shown in fig. 12 may be implemented using a suitable ultrasound system and a suitable hybrid transmitter, such as the systems and transmitters described herein.
At step 1202, a hybrid transmitter operating mode for a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system is identified. Hybrid transmitter operating modes may be identified by simulating a hybrid transmitter or an associated hybrid transmitter in operation. Additionally, the hybrid transmitter operating mode may be empirically identified by actually operating the hybrid transmitter.
At step 1204, operation of the hybrid transmitter is controlled using the operating mode for the hybrid transmitter. In particular, either or both of the linear and switched transmitters of the hybrid transmitter may be controlled depending on the mode of operation. More specifically, the operating mode may be used to determine an input for generating a desired hybrid transmitter output. The identified inputs may then be provided to a linear transmitter and/or a switching transmitter of the hybrid transmitter to produce a desired hybrid transmitter output.
Fig. 13 is a flow diagram 1300 of an example method of controlling a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system to transmit ultrasound waves to a region of interest based on an ultrasound imaging mode of the ultrasound system. The example method shown in fig. 13 may be implemented using a suitable ultrasound system and a suitable hybrid transmitter, such as the systems and transmitters described herein.
In step 1302, an ultrasound imaging mode of an ultrasound system including a hybrid transmitter is identified. For example, the hybrid transmitter control module 206 may identify whether the ultrasound system is operating in B mode, CD mode, CEUS, or PW mode. The hybrid transmitter may include a linear transmitter and a switching transmitter.
In step 1304, operation of the hybrid transmitter is controlled based on the ultrasound imaging mode of the ultrasound system. In particular, the operation of either or both of the linear transmitter and the switched transmitter of the hybrid transmitter may be controlled based on the ultrasound imaging mode. For example, when the ultrasound system is operating in the PW mode, the switching transmitter of the hybrid transmitter may be controlled to transmit ultrasound waves to operate in the PW mode.
The invention has been described with reference to various exemplary embodiments including the best mode. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, various operational steps, as well as components for performing the operational steps, may be implemented in alternative ways, e.g., one or more of the steps may be deleted, modified or combined with other steps, depending on the particular application or taking into account any number of cost functions associated with the operation of the system.
While the principles of the invention have been illustrated in various embodiments, many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, elements, materials, and components may be used which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles and scope of the present invention. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
The foregoing has been described with reference to various embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present disclosure is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope thereof. Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to various embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element. As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, or apparatus. Also, as used herein, the terms "coupled," "coupling," and any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a physical connection, an electrical connection, a magnetic connection, an optical connection, a communicative connection, a functional connection, and/or any other connection.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many changes could be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims.
Claims (21)
1. An ultrasound system, comprising:
a hybrid transmitter configured to transmit ultrasound waves to a subject region, the hybrid transmitter comprising:
a linear transmitter configured to generate a linear transmitter output;
a switching transmitter configured to generate a switching transmitter output; and
a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving a transducer load to produce ultrasound waves that are transmitted toward the subject region;
a receiver configured to receive one or more ultrasound waves from the object region in response to ultrasound waves transmitted toward the object region to generate one or more ultrasound images of the object region.
2. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the linear transmitter is further configured to generate the linear transmitter output from an N-bit waveform that is also used by the switching transmitter to generate the switching transmitter output.
3. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the switch transmitter is further configured to generate the switch transmitter output using M bits of an N-bit waveform that is also used by the linear transmitter to generate the linear transmitter output.
4. The ultrasound system of claim 3, wherein the M bits used by the switch transmitter to produce the waveform of the switch transmitter output are less than the N bits used by the linear transmitter to produce the waveform of the linear transmitter output.
5. The ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the switch transmitter is a three-level transmitter.
6. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the summer comprises a transformer.
7. The ultrasound system of claim 6, wherein:
the linear transmitter is a single-ended linear transmitter configured to generate a single-ended linear transmitter output;
the switched transmitter is a single-ended three-level transmitter configured to generate a single-ended switched transmitter output; and
the transformer of the summer is configured to generate a single-ended hybrid transmitter output from the single-ended linear transmitter output and the single-ended switched transmitter output as part of the hybrid transmitter output for driving the transmitter load.
8. The ultrasound system of claim 6, wherein:
the linear transmitter is a differential linear transmitter configured to generate a differential linear transmitter output;
the switch transmitter is a differential three-level transmitter configured to generate a differential switch transmitter output; and
the transformer of the summer is configured to generate a differential hybrid transmitter output from the differential linear transmitter output and the differential switched transmitter output as part of the hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load.
9. The ultrasound system according to claim 6, wherein the transformer is shorted to ground.
10. The ultrasound system of claim 1, further comprising a hybrid transmitter control module configured to control operation of the linear transmitter and the switching transmitter of the hybrid transmitter using a hybrid transmitter operating mode to produce the hybrid transmitter output.
11. The ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the hybrid transmitter operating mode is generated using a simulation of one or more hybrid transmitters including the hybrid transmitter.
12. The ultrasound system of claim 10, wherein the hybrid transmitter control module is further configured to generate the hybrid transmitter operational mode by:
empirically identifying a linear transmitter operating mode of the linear transmitter based on operation of the linear transmitter to produce the linear transmitter output;
empirically determining a switch transmitter operating mode of the switch transmitter based on operation of the switch transmitter to produce an output of the switch transmitter; and
determining the hybrid transmitter operating mode using the linear transmitter operating mode and the switched transmitter operating mode.
13. The ultrasound system of claim 12, wherein the hybrid transmitter control module is further configured to identify the linear transmitter operating mode by:
turning off the switch transmitter;
inputting one or more single-pulse samples to the linear transmitter; and
measuring a hybrid transmitter output used to drive the sensor load to generate the linear transmitter operating mode.
14. The ultrasound system of claim 12, wherein the hybrid transmitter control module is further configured to identify the switch transmitter operating mode by:
turning off the linear emitter;
inputting one or more single pulse samples to the switch transmitter; and
measuring a hybrid transmitter output used to drive the transducer load to generate the switched transmitter operating mode.
15. The ultrasound system of claim 10, wherein the hybrid transmitter control module is further configured to apply integer linear programming based on the hybrid transmitter operating mode to control operation of the linear transmitter and the switching transmitter to produce the hybrid transmitter output using the hybrid transmitter operating mode.
16. The ultrasound system of claim 15, wherein the hybrid transmitter control module is further configured to apply the integer linear programming based on the hybrid transmitter operating mode to determine a linear transmitter input and a switched transmitter input to apply to generate a desired hybrid transmitter output for the hybrid transmitter.
17. The ultrasound system of claim 16, wherein the hybrid transmitter control module is further configured to compensate for analog responses of the linear transmitter, the switched transmitter, and the transducer to match the desired hybrid transmitter output to a hybrid transmitter output generated using the linear transmitter input and the switched transmitter input determined based on the hybrid transmitter operating mode.
18. The ultrasound system of claim 10, wherein the hybrid transmitter control module is further configured to control operation of the linear transmitter and the switch transmitter based on an ultrasound imaging mode of the ultrasound system.
19. A method of transmitting ultrasound waves from an ultrasound system into a region of interest, comprising:
controlling a linear transmitter of the hybrid transmitter to produce a linear transmitter output;
controlling a switch transmitter of the hybrid transmitter to generate a switch transmitter output; and
adding the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to produce a hybrid transmitter output for driving a transducer load to produce an ultrasound wave that is transmitted toward a subject region.
20. A method of controlling operation of a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system, comprising:
identifying a hybrid transmitter operating mode for a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system, wherein the hybrid transmitter includes a linear transmitter configured to produce a linear transmitter output, a switching transmitter configured to produce a switching transmitter output, and a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switching transmitter output to generate a hybrid transmitter output for driving a transducer load to produce ultrasound waves; and
controlling operation of the linear transmitter and the switched transmitter in accordance with the hybrid transmitter operating mode to generate a desired hybrid transmitter output for driving the transducer load.
21. A method of controlling operation of a hybrid transmitter of an ultrasound system, comprising:
identifying an ultrasound imaging mode of an ultrasound system including the hybrid transmitter in operation to produce an ultrasound image, wherein the hybrid transmitter includes a linear transmitter configured to produce a linear transmitter output, a switched transmitter configured to produce a switched transmitter output, and a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switched transmitter output to generate a hybrid transmitter output for driving a transducer load to produce ultrasound waves; and
controlling operation of the linear transmitter and the switch transmitter according to the ultrasound imaging mode of the ultrasound system.
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| US16/240,598 | 2019-01-04 | ||
| US16/240,598 US11372092B2 (en) | 2019-01-04 | 2019-01-04 | Hybrid ultrasound transmitter |
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| CN111407310A true CN111407310A (en) | 2020-07-14 |
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| CN202010001916.4A Pending CN111407310A (en) | 2019-01-04 | 2020-01-02 | Ultrasonic system and transmitting method and control method thereof |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| US11372092B2 (en) * | 2019-01-04 | 2022-06-28 | Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. | Hybrid ultrasound transmitter |
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Also Published As
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| US20220326365A1 (en) | 2022-10-13 |
| US20200217939A1 (en) | 2020-07-09 |
| US11372092B2 (en) | 2022-06-28 |
| US11874405B2 (en) | 2024-01-16 |
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